Discover the best of the nordic domaines in the Queyras, Serre Ponçon and Brançonnais valleys on this fully guided 1-week cross country skiing holiday in the French Alps.
Explore the ‘ubacs’ at the end of the valleys where the snow never melts, ski around the high altitude snowy plateaux with panoramic views, through snow laden forests and past dramatic ice cliffs, all on high quality groomed cross country ski pistes, managed by an excellent team of pisteurs.
Holiday Summary:
You are based in the beautiful village of Guillestre for this tour which is perfectly situated with easy access to a range of different domains from Crevoux at 1600metres above the Serre Ponçon lake to Saint Véran in the Queyras, also the highest village in Europe. Having a base in the town means you have access to a range of restaurants, shopping and other facilities during your stay and are not limited to one cross country ski domain – you can visit them all!
Each day your instructor will collect you and take you to a different domain where you will spend the day with a mixture of intensive skills lessons mastering and improving your cross country ski skills and techniques (mornings) and tours exploring the area (afternoons).
You can choose whether you prefer to try classic cross country skiing, where you slide one ski on front of the other in parallel or, if you already have some experience, you can do ‘skating’, which is technically more advanced. If you have never cross country skied before, it is beneficial to master classic cross country skiing before moving on to skating. If there are skaters and classic cross country skiers in the group, we will ether provide two instructors for the different skills, or, if you are less than 8 people we will split the instructor’s time in two so you can get a shorter but more personalised lesson to focus on your skills.
Each day you will stop for lunch in a different restaurant to reward your efforts with foodie delights before setting off again.
In the afternoons you are free to do your own cross country ski tours self-guided around the domain, choose extra technique lessons with the instructor, relax over a long lunch (depending on how tired you are after your morning’s exertions) or try another activity (depending on what is available in the domain).
On one of the afternoons we will also visit the Grand Bains du Monetier, a wonderful spa and well being centre using natural hot springs. Your entry fee to the main baths is included.
Holiday Highlights:
Explore some of the best cross country ski domains of the French Alps with a different location each day
Experienced qualified local instructors for optimal cross country ski skills progression
Local and passionate instructors to ensure you get the most out of each cross country ski domain
Relax and pamper your muscles in natural hot spring baths.
Discover a variety of local restaurants and Alpine villages
Option to ski up to a high mountain refuge (depending on conditions and ski level)
Travel with a responsible and sustainable travel tour operator
Who will love this trip?
You need a good level of cardiovascular fitness to be able to enjoy cross country skiing. Regular hill walkers, swimmers, runners, cyclists, rowers, gym goers or other cardio based sports enthusiasts will love it! If you can run a 10k without collapsing at the end or manage a full day’s hiking in the hills this sport is for you!
Technically, there are skills to acquire and the better you are, the faster and further you can go. You don’t need to have had any previous cross country skiing experience to join this trip, but any ski experience will be an advantage. Your instructor will be able to differentiate for different ability groups depending on your ability and experience.
If you are a total beginner, you can expect to experience a reasonably steep learning curve and a demanding but extremely fulfilling trip. More experienced skiers will appreciate pertinent tips from the instructor and guidance on routes and circuits and the pleasure of meeting like minded people and sharing an experience.
Sustainable Tourism
We have chosen to stay in one base rather than move around to different locations for this trip, reducing un-necessary washing and cleaning in accommodations. We have also chosen a locally run, independent hotel which, slightly outside of the main ski areas, will welcome the winter bookings and help in our aim of encouraging sustainable year round tourism. It is also accessible on public transport.
We only use local guides and instructors for this trip and pay them the going rate so you can benefit from their local experience and passion for the area and can be assured that your money is being ploughed straight back into the local economy.
We will also visit local restaurants with a preference for local products and specialities so you can also immerse yourself in the local cuisine and contribute towards the sustainability of local producers.
To help offset carbon we also plant a tree on your behalf for this trip with our partners Mossy Earth.
If you travel by train instead of plane to get to Guillestre, we will also give you a 3% discount to encourage train over plane travel.
Overview
Explore the Queyras, Briançonnais & Serre Ponçon ski domains during this 1-week cross country skiing week in the French Alps.
Itinerary
1-week cross country skiing holiday in the French Alps: Itinerary.
OVERVIEW
There are 25 different cross country ski domains in the Southern French Alps with over 700km of groomed pistes in all. Our base for this trip is perfectly positioned for access to the highest concentration of nordic ski domains giving us the choice and flexibility to adapt to different weather and snow conditions so you can ski on the best cross country ski pistes during your trip.
The final choice of domains and itinerary will be designed nearer to the actual dates of your tour to make the most of conditions and will be structured as follows:
Your instructor(s), who are fully qualified cross country ski instructors and local to the area, will take you to the different ski areas each day and provide quality instruction and guiding so you can progress and make the most of these beautiful cross country ski areas. They are also there to help with logistics like organising any additional activities, restaurant bookings.
Each morning is dedicated to skills and technique tips and lessons. After your lessons you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant or a picnic (depending on domain and itinerary of the day). Your instructor will pre-arrange restaurant bookings or picnics on your behalf (at your charge). Afternoons are flexible. You can go for a self-guided tour of the nordic ski domain recommended by your guide or instructor, choose more skills and technique lessons, relax in a bar or restaurant, or choose to try a different activity available in the domain. Your instructor will help you choose and organise these for you. On one of the days you will visit the hot springs baths of Monétier Les Bains. At the end of the day your instructor will take you back to your accommodation. If you need restaurants booking, they can arrange this for you.
The different types of activities available over the week could include electric fat bike hire, snowshoe hire (with way-marked self guided routes), biathlon, husky sledding or downhill skiing. Some of these require minimum numbers and booking in advance and we will be in touch before your trip to see if you have any preferences for activities so we can get these booked in and organised for you.
It is possible to try both classic cross country skiing (sliding one ski in front of the other, usually in tracks) and skating (sliding out diagonally like ice skaters but on skis) techniques during this tour. Skating is much more technical and cardiovascular so is only recommended if you already have some cross country skiing experience. For beginners, we recommend learning classic cross country skiing first before advancing on to skating.
Please note that if there are both skaters and classic skiers in the group or very different skiing abilities, we will either provide two different instructors to focus on the different skills, or, if you are less than 8 people we will split the group and share the instructor's time between you so you have a shorter lesson but more personalised to you. It is also possible to use the afternoons for lessons in this situation if there are several different disciplines and levels. We will organise the logistics of this nearer the time when we know the profile of everyone joining the trip.
Here are descriptions of some of the different domains and an example itinerary to give you an idea of what to expect!
Day 1 Arrival
You will make your own way to Guillestre where you can check in to the hotel which is well situated in the centre of this pretty village. The nearest train station is Gare de Mont-Dauphin Guillestre which is 4km from the main town centre but there buses (some free and some payable) from the station to the town centre. Have a look at the links to various timetables here. We can arrange a taxi for you for this last 4km stretch if you prefer and will where possible group this together with other participants to share this cost. We will organise this nearer the time.
Guillestre is a beautiful village with charming, pedestrianised lanes for shopping and mooching and outside seating on terraces in the main square (at the hotel) for people watching and relaxing over a coffee!
We recommend meeting in the hotel reception at around 18h30 tonight (depending on your arrival times) so you can meet up with the other participants. We will book a group table for dinner in a local restaurant for you (payable at the restaurant) and will be in touch to arrange this nearer the time.
Day 2 XC Skiing in Crévoux
Crévoux is a beautiful ski domain nestled in a mountains above the Serre Ponçon lake. With its high altitude, at 1700m, and favourable exposure, an early and quality snow cover throughout the season is guaranteed. A natural winter paradise!
There are 45km of groomed cross country ski pistes with a range of green and blue pistes, ideal for learning and easy tours, and for experienced skiers there is a fabulous long red level ascent up the mountainside to the Refuge des Cébieres.
Observant skiers will also notice some interesting art sculptures integrated into the natural scenery as you ski!
There is an excellent on-piste restaurant for lunch (highly recommended) and it is also possible to try downhill skiing or snowshoeing at Crevoux if you want to do something different in the afternoon.
Day 3 Skiing in Ceilliac, Queyras
This is the closest nordic ski domain of the famous Queyras mountain range and highly popular thanks to its ideal exposure for keeping the snow cold and numerous slopes adapted to all levels. Have a look at the piste map of 48 km of slopes: plenty to enjoy, whether skating or classic.
Experienced cross country skiers and skaters will love the big traverse challenges (black level) and others will enjoy exploring the blues and reds.
There is a great picnic room onsite as well as restaurants in the village for lunch. Other activities available in the area include electric fat biking, husky sledding and snowshoeing (some require minimum numbers and reserving in advance)
Day 4 XC Skiing in Serre Chevalier and Pamper in hot springs baths Monétier Les Bains.
The Guisane Valley "Serre Chevalier Vallée" offers a domain of nearly 91km of cross-country ski trails, groomed in skating and classic, between 1353m and 1668m of altitude, with a total of 11 trails + 1 itinerary well as the site of Le Lautaret at (2057m) which is used at the end of the season or as a back up site in the event of poor snow lower down. The site is spread over three sectors extending from La Salle Les Alpes to Le Lauzet alongside the Guisane river at the foot of the downhill ski resort with several points of access depending on which part you want to ski.
Monêtier les Bains : 1464/1668m, 8 pistes and 1 biathlon stadium - a wild atmosphere / small hamlets, very pretty. This is the main access point and is also where the heated picnic room is.
Chantermerle (Parc des Colombiers): 1353/1361m, 2 pistes - perfect site for beginners
Pontillas (Villeneuve la Salle) - Les Guibertes (Monétier): 1400/1451m, 4 pistes and 1 itinerary - skiing under pylons!! A fabulous selection of trails, perfect for endurance and long distance skiers.
In the afternoon we will visit the famous hot spring baths at Monétier les Bains for a well deserved pamper.
Day 5 XC Skiing in Vallouise
Vallouise offers the opportunity to explore down 3 different valleys over 35km of pistes. At the welcome chalet there is an initiation area with flat pistes, perfect for learning on and for the more athletic a border cross and 10m shooting range for biathlon.
To explore you can ski down the Onde to the gateway to the Ecrins National Park, or go in the direction of Vigneaux where the Gyronde valley opens up offering a magnificent panorama of the Ecrins, Queyras, Montbrison, and Puy Saint Vincent, more often than not, in beautiful sunshine! Alternatively choose the Gyr and follow a gentle slope down to the village of Pelvoux with its downhill ski resort and, depending on weather and conditions, ice sculptures and igloo.
On your return to the centre, take advantage of the snack bar for some refreshments in the sun or in bad weather warm up in the free heated picnic room!
Other activities in Vallouise include snowshoeing and it is also possible to drive 15 minutes up the valley to Puy St Vincent to discover more nordic ski trails as well as downhill skiing, fat biking and husky sledding (fat biking and husky sledding require reservation in advance.)
Day 6 XC Skiing in Molines and Saint Véran
A fabulous nordic ski domain in the wild open space of the Queyras mountains taking you through the highest village Europe, Saint Véran at 2400m with its Alpine charm.
There are a range of cross country skiing pistes here and experienced skiers or skaters will love the high mountain itineraries with the option to go for a big tour all the way up to the high mountain refuges of either L'Agnel or the Refuge de La Blanche (depending on conditions) - the perfect cross country skiing adventure and unique lunch stop.
Others will love the wide open space and high mountain environment.
Have a look a the Nordic piste map of Molines and Saint Véran
Afternoon activity possibilities include husky sledding, snowshoeing, downhill skiing and electric fat biking (some of these require minimum numbers and reserving in advance)
Day 7 XC Skiing in Arvieux
The village of Arvieux is a hotspot for Nordic skiing: located at the foot of the Col d'Izoard, it boasts 28 kilometres of groomed cross-country skiing trails for both skating and classic styles, ranging from 1550m to 1780m in altitude. The area typically receives snow early in the season and is also equipped with artificial snowmaking. Local, regional, and even national teams often come here to train.
The cross-country ski area has a total of 6 skating/classic trails (1 green, 1 blue, 1 red, and 3 black) spread over two zones, covering a total of 32 km:
Nordic ski stadium at Brunissard, at the foot of the Col d'Izoard, covering 16.5 km (Green: Le Plan d'Eau, Blue: Les Clots, Red: Les Pins, Black: La Bergerie). This is where you'll find the Nordic ski centre next to the Jamberoute site.
Black trails (formerly itineraries) of Souliers and Belvédères du Lac de Roue, covering 15.5 km, starting from the downhill ski area at La Chalp d'Arvieux.
Additionally, there is the Col d'Izoard route (up to Col de la Platrière), which starts directly from Brunissard and covers 14 km. Each year, several "Intégrale Izoard" events are organised, where the trails are smoothed and groomed on both sides of the Col (from Cervières Le Laus to Brunissard), reserved for Nordic skiers in the mornings.
Have a look at the piste map for Arvieux
Afternoon activities can include husky sledding, sledging, snowshoeing as well as more cross country skiing.
Day 8 Return journey
Today is the sad day we say goodbye. We hope you are going home with some amazing memories and feeling fantastic!
Provider Information
Gallery
What's Included
- 7 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in a charming family run hotel (based on 2 sharing a room)
- 6 days with fully qualified and experienced local ski instructor and tour guide
- Cross country ski technique lessons (every morning)
- 6 days cross country ski pass
- 6 days cross country ski equipment hire
- 1 entry to the hot springs baths at Monétier Les Bains (3 hour seance)
- Transport to and from the different ski domains
- A tree planted on your behalf to help offset your carbon footprint
- An App for your smartphone with your itinerary, kit list, weather and other useful holiday information
What's Not Included
- Lunches, dinners and drinks in local restaurants and bars
- Your journey to Guillestre (accessible on public transport). We can help you plan this and offer a 3% discount* to anyone travelling by train.
- Spending money
- Any additional activities organised on your behalf
